The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised serious concern over the alarming number of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Kano State, revealing that more than 360,000 cards remain abandoned in its custody.
This was disclosed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kano, Ambassador Abdu Zango, on Saturday during a meeting with a newly inaugurated committee set up by the state government to drive voter education and awareness.
The committee, chaired by the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, was established by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf as part of efforts to address growing voter apathy and boost civic engagement across the state.
Ambassador Zango described the situation as worrisome, especially with ongoing preparations for future elections, including the 2027 general polls. He said the massive pile of unclaimed PVCs could threaten voter turnout and undermine democratic participation if not urgently addressed.
READ ALSO: Over 500,000 Nigerians pre-register for CVR in 5 days – INEC
“The over 360,000 uncollected PVCs represent a significant gap in voter engagement. These are citizens who have gone through the trouble of registering, yet their cards are still lying idle in our offices,” Zango said.
He expressed optimism that the committee, with its diverse membership drawn from government, civil society, youth groups, and religious organisations, would help close the gap through robust community-level sensitisation.
“This effort by the state government is timely. We welcome it wholeheartedly. INEC is fully ready to collaborate in any way possible to ensure that eligible voters not only register but also collect their PVCs and come out to vote,” he added.
Zango also highlighted INEC’s readiness to provide technical support, materials, and personnel to assist in mobilising communities, particularly at the grassroots level.
In his remarks, Comrade Waiya said the committee was born out of the governor’s concern over low voter participation and lack of civic awareness among many Kano residents, especially young people and rural dwellers.
“The governor directed us to work with all stakeholders, including opposition parties, civil society groups, and traditional institutions, to encourage people to collect their PVCs and prepare for future elections,” Waiya said.
He noted that the committee would embark on a state-wide sensitisation campaign using radio, community meetings, religious gatherings, and social media to reach as many people as possible.
Waiya also appealed to INEC to address logistical challenges that have plagued elections in the past, particularly the issue of overcrowded polling units, which he said discourages many voters from turning out on election day.
“We are appealing to INEC to consider creating more polling units in densely populated areas of the state to make the process easier and more accessible for voters,” he said.
With Kano being one of the states with the largest voting population in Nigeria, both the state government and INEC say the success of this awareness campaign could have a significant impact on the national electoral landscape in the years ahead.
